Improvement in bed-bottoms



1. HARPER.

Improvement in Bed-Bottoms.

Patented Sep.17, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEFIoEc JOHN HARPER, OF HILLSBOROUGH, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT lN BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,397, dated September 17, 1872.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HARPER, of Hillsborough, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented a certain Improvement in Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to that class of bedbottoms which are composed essentially of a set of slats supported upon the free ends of two longitudinal springs, respectively fastened to the side rails of the bedstead. My improvement consists in securing the springs upon the side rails of the bedstead by means of stirrups, one or both of which may be adjusted to regulate the rigidity ofthe springs.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved bedbottom. Fig. 2 is alongitudiual sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

The same letters of reference are employed in all the gures in the designation of identical parts.

The springs A and B, which are preferably made of some tough and springy wood, such as hickory, are fastened to the side rails C and D of the bedstead, respectively, by two stirrups, E and F. The latter are arranged somewhat nearer to the head-board than to the footboard of the bedstead, so that the ends of the springs sustaining the weight of the trunk of the body will be the stift'est. By adjusting the position of the stirrups in relation to each other the stiffness of the respective springs may also be readily regulated, so as to maintain the horizontality ofthe slats under a pressure of two persons of different weight. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the spring B is the mostiiexible, and is intended to sustain the person of least weight. The ends of the springs are bent a little distance toward each other, as best seen in Fig. 1, and they are in that condition connected together by rigid cross-bars G and H, so as to prevent the springs from rubbing against the side rails, which would cause an unpleasant noise, besides marring the rails. The set of slats I rests upon the cross-bars G and H, the different slats being connected thereto in any approved manner. I propose inserting listings between the slats and the cross-bars to reduce the friction and prevent any noise resulting from the endwise movements of the slats.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe combination of the side rails O and D, springs A and B,- and adjustable stirrups E and F, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN HARPER.

Witnesses:

J oHN A. FINoE, J AMES O. MITCHELL. 

